The whole reason that the grandpas got neck gators in the first place was because I had decided to knit shawls for the grandmas a long time ago. I wanted them to have something lovely to wear to church on Sundays or around the house.
This is an absolutely luscious Estonian shawl. I wanted something intricate for my grandmother who knits. She’s very talented (or was before her eyes went), but she never got into lace so I knew she wouldn’t have anything like this.
Pattern: Miralda’s Triangular Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Bristol Yarn Gallery Buckingham
Needles: US 5 Addi Lace
Made for: Grandma J
Timeline: 8 August 2010-23 December 2011
Modifications: none
Worst Part: casting on so many stitches
Best Part: the yarn–I absolutely love it for lace
I did something that wasn’t quite so fancy for another grandma, as she’s more of a sturdy farmer’s wife. I also used yarn that had a photo of the alpaca that it came from on the label–this grandma loves that sort of thing, and so do I! The halo of the yarn really gives this design a different look from the original–I may have to try the pattern again in a different yarn to see the difference for myself.
Pattern: Hamamelis by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn: Joyful Journeys Alpaca Sock
Needles: US 5 Addi Lace
Made for: Grandma C
Timeline: January 5-December 20 2011
Modifications: none
Worst Part: putting it down for so long
Best Part: the simplicity of this design
To be honest, these gifts didn’t go over quite as well as I had hoped, but I think they’ll still get some good use.
Those are gorgeous! Sorry to hear that they didn’t go over as well as you might have liked.
They are fantastic.
Oh Cheryl, they are sooo pretty and look very delicate, even if they are as warm as I think, being made from those yarns.